Device, system, and method for providing a  fence with adjustable tension

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems for tensioning a wire fence are disclosed. A fence post may be provided with fence post connectors. A vertical side of a section of wire fence may be provided with a fence section terminator. The fence section terminator may include a terminator connector for connecting the fence section terminator and the fence post. An adjustable link, such as a bolt, may be used to connect the terminator connector of the fence section terminator and the fence post connectors of the fence post. The adjustable link forms a horizontally adjustable connection between the fence section terminator and the fence post that enables adjustment of the tension in the fence section.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

A claim for priority to the Jul 16, 2014, filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/846,628, titled DEVICE, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A WIRE FENCE WITH ADJUSTABLE TENSION (“the '628 Provisional Application”), is hereby made pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e). The entire disclosure of the '628 Provisional Application is hereby incorporated herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to methods and systems for fences and, more particularly, to fences with adjustable tension.

BACKGROUND OF RELATED ART

Wire fences and other similar types of fencing are commonly used in a variety of contexts. Wire fences and plastic fences are typically affordable, easy to install and durable, making them a popular choice for a wide range of purposes.

One problem with wire fences and other similar types of fences is their tendency to lose tension and sag. This loss of tension may result naturally over time, from livestock pressing against the fence, weather, expansion and contraction during changes in weather or from other factors. When a fence loses tension it may not be as effective. Loose wire fences can also pose a danger to animals, which might get entangled in the sagging wires. However, adjusting the tension in the fence is often both time-intensive and labor-intensive. Furthermore, many solutions for adjusting the tension of a fence may only enable increasing the tension; lessening the tension may not be possible or it may be overly cumbersome.

SUMMARY

This disclosure, in one aspect, relates to a fence tensioning system that includes a fence section terminator, which may also be referred to herein as a “tensioning plate” or, more simply, as a “plate” that connects to an end of a section of a wire fence or any other similar type of fence. The fence section terminator may include one or more terminator connectors that are used to connect the fence section terminator to a fence post that has been equipped with one or more fence post connectors of the fence tensioning system. One or more adjustable links are configured to connect the terminator connector of the fence section terminator to the fence post connector(s). Each adjustable link forms a horizontally adjustable connection between the fence section terminator and the fence post.

In one embodiment, the fence section terminator is configured to be secured to the vertically oriented end or side of a section of fence. The terminator connector may be configured to receive a portion of the adjustable link (e.g., an elongated element, or “rod,” such as a bolt with threading along its length or at its end, etc.). The receiver for the adjustable link may comprise an integral part of the fence section terminator, or it may comprise a bracket secured to the fence section terminator. The receiver may include a passage through its body for receiving a portion of the adjustable link (e.g., the length of the rod, etc.). The passage may be oriented such that its length is oriented horizontally when the fence section terminator is connected to the end of the section of the fence.

A fence post connector corresponds to the receiver of or on the fence section terminator. The fence post connector may be formed as part of a fence post, or it may be configured to be secured to the fence post (e.g., by welding, bolts, etc.). In some embodiments, the fence post connector may include a passage therethrough for receiving another portion of the adjustable link (e.g., the length of the rod, etc.).

In embodiments where the adjustable link comprises a rod, the rod may comprise a bolt or other elongated element. A first end of the rod may be configured to hold the rod in place relative to the fence post connector. In some embodiments, that end of the rod may be enlarged, or have a size that prevents that end of the rod from being pulled through the passage of the fence post connector (e.g., the first end may comprise the eye of a so-called “eye bolt,” the enlarged end of a so-called “hex bolt,” a hex nut that has been welded to the end of an elongated element with threads, etc.). In other embodiments, the first end of the rod may be fixed to (e.g., welded to, screwed into, etc.) the fence post. An opposite, second end of the rod may include threads or other features that enable a bolt or other tensioning element to be secured at a plurality of locations along the length of the rod. When the rod extends through the receiver of the fence section terminator, the tensioning element may be positioned at a location along the length of the rod that will introduce a desired amount of tension into the section of fence to which the fence section terminator is secured.

Also disclosed is a method for tensioning a wire fence or any other similar type of fence. Such a method may include securing a fence section terminator to a side of a section of a fence that is to be oriented vertically, providing a fence post with a fence post connector, providing an adjustable link on the fence post connector and assembling the adjustable link with a terminator connector of the fence section terminator. The method may further include adjusting the tension in the section of the fence by adjusting the adjustable link to adjust a distance the fence section terminator and the fence post or the fence post connector are spaced apart from one another.

Other aspects, as well as the features and advantages of various aspects, of the disclosed subject matter will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the ensuing description, the accompanying figures and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a fence tensioning system including a fence post with a fence post connector, and a section of fence with a fence section terminator on an end thereof and an adjustable link securing the fence section terminator to the fence post connector;

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a system where the adjustable link is a threaded rod secured by nuts;

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a fence including multiple sections of fence and multiple fence posts;

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a system for adjustably securing a section of fence and a fence post;

FIG. 4A illustrates an embodiment of the manner in which a rod and a bracket therefore may be secured to a fence post;

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a fence post with a hollow interior and an aperture for securing the first rod to the fence post;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of a method for tensioning a fence;

FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of a fence tensioning system; and

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate embodiments of a tensioning plate of a fence tensioning system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a fence tensioning system 100. The fence tensioning system 100 may include a section of wire fence 102 and a fence post 110. The section of wire fence 102 may be a section of any suitable wire fencing material. The wire fence material may comprise woven and galvanized steel and may be coated with zinc to provide additional durability. Alternatively, a fence tensioning system 100 may be used with fences made from any of a variety of other suitable fencing materials (e.g., poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), etc.). The term “wire fence” is used broadly in this application to refer to fences using metal wire, synthetic materials, barbed wire, mesh, or other fences using flexible horizontal strips of material that may be tensioned through the application of force. The section of wire fence 102 may include separate elongated elements (or wires), a hexagonal mesh pattern, a diamond mesh pattern, a square mesh pattern or any other suitable pattern. The height and the length of the section of wire fence 102 may vary depending on the particular application. In certain embodiments, a single sheet of fencing material may be suitable and the fence may only include one continuous section of wire fence 102. In other embodiments, multiple separate sections of wire fence 102 may be used.

Multiple fence posts 110 may be provided to support the section of wire fence 102. The number of fence posts 110 necessary may vary based on the size of the area to be fenced and the purpose served by the fence; for example, a fence that is intended to keep livestock in may require more fence posts 110 to provide additional support and strength than a fence for delineating a property line.

Each fence post 110 may be made of a durable material, such as wood, steel or any other suitable material. Some fence posts 110 are held in place using footings. Other fence posts 110 may be driven into the ground using a post pounder or other suitable implement. A fence may include a variety of different types of fence posts 110; for example, larger fence posts 110 may be provided at key points in the fence, while smaller fence posts 110 may be used to provide some support between the larger fence posts 110.

One challenge in maintaining a wire fence is that the sections of wire fence may sag over time, making the wire fence less effective. The disclosed fence tensioning system 100 provides an approach to help minimize sagging by providing an effective manner to repair a sagging section of a wire fence 102.

A section of wire fence 102 typically has two horizontal sides 104 (i.e., the top and the bottom of the wire fence) along the length of the section of wire fence 102 and two vertical sides 106 along the height of the section of wire fence 102. A fence section terminator 112 may be disposed on a vertical side 106 of the section of wire fence 102. The fence section terminator 112 may be a plate that fits over a portion of the front side adjacent to an end of the section of wire fence 102 and over a portion of the back side adjacent to the end of the section of wire fence 102 to connect to the section of wire fence 102. Alternatively, in embodiments where the wire fence 102 comprises a mesh formed by links, the fence section terminator 112 may be a rod woven through links of the section of wire fence 102. Other configurations of a fence section terminator 112 may also be used.

The fence section terminator 112 includes one or more terminator connectors 114 a-b that are configured to enable direct or indirect connection of the fence section terminator 112 to a fence post 110. While FIG. 1 illustrates two terminator connectors 114 a and 114 b, more or fewer terminator connectors 114 may be provided. The terminator connector 114 a may be formed as part of the fence section terminator 112, or it may be a separate element that is configured to be secured to the fence section terminator 112.

FIG. 8A illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a fence section terminator 220. The fence section terminator 220 may have a first side 812 and a second side 814 that are configured to be positioned on opposite sides of a wire fence 102 (FIG. 1). The first side 812 and the second side 814 may be connected and secured to one another by way of a plate bolt 820 and a plate nut 822, or by any other suitable means. In the depicted embodiment, the fence section terminator 220 is configured to couple to individual horizontal elements of the section of wire fence 102. The fence section terminator 220 may include one or more washers 810 that are situated between the first side 812 and the second side 814 and maintain a gap between the first side 812 and the second side 814. The washer 810 may be configured to receive an adjustable link 118 a, 118 b, etc. (FIG. 1), or an eye bolt 702, as described below in connection with FIG. 7. The eye bolt 702 may connect to the individual wire and allow for adjustment in the tension of that individual wire. The washer 810 may maintain an appropriate spacing between the first side 812 and the second side 814 and provide a connection point for the eye bolt 702.

In another embodiment, a fence section terminator 220 may include a square nut between the first side 812 and the second side 814, which is oriented to receive and to engage with the threads of an eye bolt 702. In other embodiments, the connector of the fence section terminator 220 that engages the eye bolt 702 or other line tensioner may be an integral component of the fence section terminator 220.

FIG. 8B shows another embodiment of fence section terminator 220 with an eye bolt 702 connecting the first side 812 and the second side 814 and also serving as a horizontal line tensioner. A washer 810 may be disposed between the first side 812 and the second side 814. A nut 822 may be secured to the eye bolt 702, adjacent to the second side 814.

Referring again to FIG. 1, one or more fence post connectors 116 a and 116 b may be formed as part of the fence post 110 or may be secured to the fence post 110 (e.g., permanently, by welding or mechanically engaged connections; removably, with threaded elements; etc.) to enable connection of the fence section terminator 112 on a vertical side 106 of the section of the wire fence 102 to the fence post 110. In a specific embodiment, each fence post connector 116 a, 116 b includes a protrusion from the fence post 110. Such a fence post connector 116 a, 116 b is configured to couple with an adjustable link 118. In another embodiment, each fence post connector 116 a, 116 b is formed in the fence post 110, and may be configured to receive an adjustable link 118.

Each adjustable link 118 a, 118 b is also configured to be coupled with a terminator connector 114 a, 114 b of the fence section terminator 112. When coupled with both a fence post connector 116 a and a terminator connector 114, an adjustable link 118 a, 118 b may provide a horizontally-adjustable connection between the fence post 110 and the fence section terminator 112 (and, thus, the section of the wire fence 102). Since the fence section terminator 112 is connected to the section of wire fence 102, each adjustable link 118 a, 118 b enables adjustment of the tension in a section of the wire fence 102. As a result, a sagging section of wire fence 102 can be easily and quickly remedied without having to remove the section of wire fence 102 from the fence post 110, re-tension that section of the wire fence 102, and then re-attach that section of the wire fence 102 to the fence post 110. More specifically, each adjustable link 118 a, 118 b may include a tensioner for applying and adjusting tension on the section of wire fence 102. Where the adjustable link 118 a, 118 b includes a threaded rod (as discussed below), the tensioner may comprise a nut that engages the threads and can be moved to a variety of positions along the length of the threaded rod. The nut may engage the terminator connector 114 or the fence section terminator 112 in a manner that applies tension to the fence section terminator 112 and its corresponding section of the wire fence 102 in a manner that corresponds to the location of the nut along the length of the threaded rod. By changing the position of the nut, the amount of tension on the section of wire fence 102 can be altered.

FIG. 2 shows a specific embodiment of a fence tensioning system 200. The fence tensioning system 200 is configured for use with a section of wire fence 102 and a fence post 110, as described above. In the depicted embodiment, the fence section terminator 220 comprises a front plate (visible in FIG. 2) on the front of the section of wire fence 102, along or adjacent to a vertical side 106, and a back plate on the back of the section of wire fence 102, along or adjacent to the same vertical side 106 and secured to the front plate of the fence section terminator 220. The terminator connectors 114 a, 114 b, etc. (FIG. 1) of such a fence section terminator 220 include a first receiver 202 and a second receiver 204. The first rod receiver element 202 may comprise a protrusion from the fence section terminator 220. Each receiver 202, 204 may include a passage that is configured to receive a portion of an adjustable link 206, 210.

A fence post connector 212, 214 on or of the fence post 110 may be configured to receive another part of the adjustable link 206, 210. In some embodiments, the fence post connector 212, 214 and the receiver 202, 204, or receptacles thereof, may be configured to align (e.g., horizontally, etc.) with one another.

Each adjustable link 206, 210 may comprise a rod 207, 211 that is configured to be received by receptacles of a receiver 202, 204 and a fence post connector 212, 214. The receptacles of the receiver 202, 204 and the fence post connector 212, 214 may enable the rod 207, 211 to slide therethrough. In addition to the rod 207, 211, each adjustable link 206, 210 may include one or more nuts 218 a, 218 b, 218 c, 218 d that engage the rod 207, 211. More specifically, the rod 207, 211 may include threads that are complementary to and, thus, receive and engage threads of the nuts 218 a, 218 b, 218 c, 218 d. Thus, the nuts 218 a, 218 b, 218 c, 218 d are movable along the length of the rod 207, 211. The nuts 218 a, 218 b, 218 c, 218 d may be larger than the receptacles of the receiver 202, 204 and the fence post connector 212, 214; thus, the nuts 218 a, 218 b, 218 c, 218 d may prevent the rod 207, 211 from being removed from the receptacles.

Installation of the fence tensioning system 200 may include securing the fence section terminator 220 to a vertical side 106 of a section of wire fence 102, and securing the fence post connectors 212, 214 to a fence post 110. The section of wire fence 102 may then be placed under tension. Tensioning of the wire fence 102 may be performed manually, mechanically, or using some combination of the two.

While the section of the wire fence 102 is under tension, each adjustable link 206, 210 may be coupled with both a receiver 202, 204 of the fence section terminator 220 and a fence post connector 212, 214 on the fence post 110. Each adjustable link 206, 210 may then be adjusted to modify a distance between at least a portion of the fence section terminator 220 and a portion of the fence post 110 and, thus, to modify the tension in at least a part of the section of the wire fence 102. In the specific embodiment depicted by FIG. 2, such adjustment may be accomplished by positioning the nuts 218 a-d on their respective rods 207, 211. When the originally applied manual and/or mechanical tension is removed from the section of the wire fence 102, the section of wire fence 102 remains under tension due to the adjustable links 206 and 210.

If, over time, the section of wire fence 102 sags, the user may move one or more of the nuts 218 a-d inward, closing the size of the gap 240 between the fence post 110 and the fence section terminator 220, and placing the section of wire fence 102 under increased tension. If the user decides to decrease the tension, one or more of the nuts 218a-d may be moved outward, increasing the size of the gap 240. As a result, the tension in a section of the wire fence 102 can be easily adjusted.

While FIG. 2 illustrates the use of movable nuts 218 a-d on threaded rods 207 and 211, in certain embodiments, a nut 218 may be used on only one side of a rod 207, 211. For example, the rod 207, 211 may comprise a carriage bolt with a domed head that is too large to pass through the receptacle of the fence post connector 212, 214. In such an embodiment, the domed head may take the place of a nut 218 a, 218 b, and adjustments in the size of the gap 240 may be made using only one nut 218 c, 218 d.

As illustrated by FIG. 7, as an alternative to the rods 207, 211, or rods 207 and 211 shown in FIG. 2, an all-thread bolt 704 may be used to couple a fence section terminator 220 to the fence post 110 and to enable adjustment of the spacing between these two elements, thereby enabling the section of wire fence 102 to be stretched and adjusted to an appropriate tension. In a specific embodiment, a nut 218 may be welded or otherwise permanently secured to an all-thread bolt 704.

FIG. 3 provides a top view of a fence 300 comprising sections 302 a-e of wire fence and main fence posts 304 a-f with support fence posts 306 a-k supporting the sections 302 a-e of wire fence. The main fence posts 304 a-f may be sturdier than the support fence posts 306 a-k (e.g., the main fence posts 304 a-f may comprise poles that are secured in place with concrete footings, etc., while the support fence posts 306 a-k may be lighter weight fence posts such as metal posts driven into the ground using a post pounder, etc.).

In one embodiment, each section 302 a-e of the wire fence 300 is connected to a main fence post 304 a-f at either end of the respective sections 302 a-e of the wire fence 300. The connection to the main fence post 304 a-f may be an adjustable connection using a fence section terminator 112 that couples to at least one vertical side of each section of the wire fence 302 a-e. The fence section terminators 112 may include terminator connectors 114, while the main fence posts 304 a-f may be equipped with fence post connectors 116, as described above. Adjustable links 118 between the terminator connectors 114 and the fence post connectors 116 may allow each section 302 a-e of wire fence in the fence 300 to be independently tensioned.

FIGS. 4 and 4A illustrate a specific embodiment of a fence tensioning system 200. FIG. 4 illustrates a steel fence post 110 with a fence post connector 212, or “bracket,” coupled thereto. The fence post connector 212 may be welded, bolted or otherwise secured to the fence post 110. FIGS. 4 and 4A further illustrate that the fence post connector 212 protrudes from the body of the fence post 110, and that the protrusion includes a receptacle that extends therethrough, in which the rod 211 of an adjustable link 210 may be positioned.

FIG. 4 also illustrates the receiver 202 with a receptacle that has received a portion of the adjustable link 210—a portion of the rod 211—and a nut 218 c securing the adjustable link 210 and its rod 211 in place. The tension on the section of wire fence 102 may be adjusted by moving the position of the nut 218 c along the rod 211.

While FIG. 4 illustrates receptacles through each of the fence post connector 212 and the receiver 202, in certain embodiments, a close-ended receptacle, which does not extend completely through the fence post connector 212 and/or the receiver 202 may be sufficient. For example, as shown by FIG. 5, the fence post 110 may have a hollow interior. The first fence post connector 212 may comprise an aperture 502 in the wall of the fence post 110, providing access to the interior of the fence post 110 without providing a passage completely through the fence post 110. The rod 211 may be introduced into the aperture 502 and secured to the fence post 110 in a manner that will enable a portion of the rod 211 to remain within the aperture 502 when force is applied to the rod 211. For example, the rod 211 may be secured by a nut 218 a within the interior of the fence post 110. In other embodiments, the rod 211 may be welded or otherwise permanently secured to the fence post 110. The rod 211 may even be integrally formed with the fence post 110 during manufacture of the fence post 110. In such embodiments, an aperture 502 may not be necessary.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart identifying various elements of an embodiment of a method 600 for adjusting tension in a section of a wire fence. The method 600 may include, at reference numeral 602, connecting a fence section terminator 112 (FIG. 1) to a vertical side 106 (FIG. 1) of a section of a wire fence 102 (FIG. 1). The method may, in some embodiments, also include securing one or more fence post connectors 116 a, 116 b, etc. (FIG. 1) to a fence post 110 (FIG. 1).

Such a method 600 may also include, at reference numeral 604 of FIG. 6, coupling or securing a portion of an adjustable link 118 a, 118 b, etc. (FIG. 1) to a fence post connector 116 a, 116 b, etc. (FIG. 1), and coupling or securing another portion of the adjustable link 118 a, 118 b, etc. to the fence section terminator 112 (FIG. 1) (e.g., a receiver 202, 204 (FIG. 2) thereof, etc.). Securing the adjustable link 118 a, 118 b, etc., may include passing a rod 211 (FIG. 2) through a receptacle of a receiver 202 of a fence section terminator 112 and, at reference numeral 606, passing the rod 211 through a receptacle of a fence post connector 116 a, 116 b, etc., that is connected to the fence post 110 (FIGS. 1 and 2). At reference numeral 608, tensioner, such as a nut 218 a, 218 b, etc., may be secured to one end of the rod 211 and, at reference numeral 610, the tension in the section of the wire fence 102 may be adjusted by moving the position of the tensioner along the length of the rod 211.

FIG. 7 provides an additional illustration of an embodiment of fence tensioning system 700 that comprises a fence section terminator 220 configured to receive at least one eye bolt 702 and to be secured to a fence post connector 706 in accordance with teachings of this disclosure. The eye end of the eye bolt 702 is configured to receive and to be secured to an individual wire of the wire fence 102. The fence section terminator 220 may comprise multiple eye bolts 702 disposed along its length. In certain embodiments, the number of eye bolts 702 of the fence section terminator 220 may be equal to the number of horizontal wires in the wire fence 102. Each eye bolt 702 may be configured to be removably secured to the fence section terminator 220, such that a user can add or remove eye bolts 702 as necessary based on the number of wires in the wire fence 102. In some embodiments, each eye bolt 702 may only be positioned at a particular location along the length of the fence section terminator 220. In other embodiments, each eye bolt 702 may be postioned at a plurality of vertical positions along the length of the fence section terminator 220, enabling adjustment according to the needs of a user.

The eye bolt 702 may have a threaded section 703 that is configured to pass through a receptable of the fence section terminator 220. The eye bolt 702 may be configured to couple with one or more nuts 708, which may include threads that engage with the threads of the threaded section 703. Using the nuts 708, the horizontal position of the eye of each eye bolt 702 relative to the fence section terminator 220 may be changed. The embodiment shown in FIG. 7 may allow for additional fine tuning of the tension by enabling adjustment of the tension on a per-wire basis (using the eye bolts 702) and for the entire section of wire fence 102 that is connected to the fence section terminator 220, as described above.

While FIG. 7 shows the use of an eye bolt 702, other embodiments of individual line tensioners may also be used. An individual line tensioner refers to a component that connects to an individual horizontal element of a fence and adjusts the tension of that element by changing its horizontal position. For example, an individual line tensioner may comprise a clamp or other connector configured to be attached to an individual wire.

Although this disclosure provides many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of any claim, but merely as providing illustrations of some of embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. Features from different embodiments may be employed in combination. Other embodiments of the disclosed subject matter may be devised which do not depart from the spirit or scope of this disclosure. The scope of each claim is indicated and limited only by its plain language and the legal equivalents thereto. All additions, deletions and modifications to the subject matter disclosed herein that fall within the meaning and scopes of the claims are to be embraced by the claims. 

1. A wire fence tensioning system comprising: a fence section terminator that connects to a section of a wire fence along a vertical side of the wire fence, the fence section terminator comprising a terminator connector for connecting the fence section terminator to a fence post; a fence post connector for a fence post for connecting the fence post to the fence section terminator; and an adjustable link connecting to the terminator connector of the fence section terminator and to the fence post connector, the adjustable link forming a horizontally adjustable connection between the fence section terminator and the fence post.
 2. The wire fence tensioning system of claim 1, wherein the terminator connector comprises a horizontally-oriented first aperture.
 3. The wire fence tensioning system of claim 2, wherein the fence post connector comprises a horizontally-oriented second aperture.
 4. The wire fence tensioning system of claim 3, wherein the adjustable link comprises an outwardly-threaded rod configured to pass through the first aperture of the terminator connector and the second aperture of the fence post connector.
 5. The wire fence tensioning system of claim 4, wherein the adjustable link further comprises one or more inwardly-threaded nuts that threadingly connect with the outwardly-threaded rod and fix a position of the outwardly-threaded rod relative to the fence post connector and to the terminator connector.
 6. The wire fence tensioning system of claim 4, wherein the outwardly-threaded rod is a bolt.
 7. The wire fence tensioning system of claim 1, wherein the fence post connector is separate from the fence post, the fence post connector further comprising a post connector for connecting the fence post connector to the fence post.
 8. The wire fence tensioning system of claim 6, wherein the fence post connector comprises a clamp that secures the fence post connector to the fence post.
 9. The wire fence tensioning system of claim 1, wherein the fence post connector is an integral component of the fence post.
 10. The wire fence tensioning system of claim 1, further comprising one or more additional terminal connectors and one or more additional fence post connectors.
 11. A wire fence tensioning system comprising: a plate that connects to a vertical side of a section of a wire fence, the plate comprising a first rod receiver element having a first passage through the first rod receiver, wherein a first length of the first passage is along a horizontal plane when the plate is connected to the vertical side of the section of the wire fence; a fence post connector element that connects to a fence post, the fence post connector element comprising a second passage through the fence post connector element, wherein a second length of the second passage is along the horizontal plane when the fence post connector element is connected to the fence post, the second passage aligning with the first passage; a rod that passes through the first passage and the second passage; and one or more nuts that engage the rod and maintain the rod within the first passage and the second passage.
 12. The wire fence tensioning system of claim 11, wherein the plate is situated along substantially the entire vertical side of the section of the wire fence.
 13. The wire fence tensioning system of claim 11, wherein the plate comprises one or more additional rod receiver elements, the first rod receiver element being situated in an upper portion of the plate and at least one additional rod receiver element being situated in a lower portion of the plate.
 14. The wire fence tensioning system of claim 13, wherein the rod is outwardly threaded, each of the one or more threaded nuts comprising a threaded interior passage that engages the rod and through which a first end of the threaded rod may pass.
 15. The wire fence tensioning system of claim 14, wherein each of the one or more threaded nuts is movable along the length of the threaded rod such that tension between the fence post and the section of wire fence may be controlled by movement of the one or more threaded nuts.
 16. A method for tensioning a wire fence comprising: connecting a fence section terminator to a vertical side of a section of a wire fence; passing a rod through a terminator connector of the fence section terminator; passing the rod through a fence post connector connected to a fence post; situating a first tensioner on one end of the rod; and adjusting tension in the section of the wire fence by adjusting a position of the first tensioner on the rod.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the rod comprises an outwardly-threaded section and the first tensioner comprises an inwardly-threaded passage.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein adjusting the position of the first tensioner comprises turning the tensioner such that the inwardly-threaded passage engages the outwardly-threaded section of the rod and moves the tensioner along a length of the rod.
 19. The method of claim 16, further comprising connecting the fence post connector to the fence post.
 20. The method of claim 16, further comprising passing a second rod through a second terminator connector and a second fence post connector and situating a second tensioner on one end of the second rod. 